The night sky in August

This August full moon falls on the 19th, with the moon waning as the month draws to an end. Nights continue to be longer than days, providing more opportunity to stargaze.

In the evening sky, Jupiter and Venus shine brightly, while Mars reveals its red glow in the morning sky. Saturn and Mercury only peek over the horizon just before sunrise.

One of the most prominent constellations in the evening sky is Scorpio, with Antares glowing red in the scorpion. Other notable stars include Arcturus in the north and Vega in the northeast. Constellation Aquila 'the eagle' is illuminated in the Milky Way by bright star Altair.

By morning the scorpion has been chased away by Orion and his two dogs Procyon and Sirius. Canopus also shines brightly in the southeast, as the second brightest star in the sky at the time.

Southwest of Orion the celestial river of Eridanus flows, with highlight star Achernar, known to the Sotho as the 'little horn'. little horn'. Most of the bright morning stars are located in the east.